Darrel Grossnickle

Darrel “Butch” Grossnickle, 85, of Fort Dodge went to be with our Lord Monday, March 18, 2024, at his home.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, March 22, 2024, at First Covenant Christian Church. Entombment will follow at North Lawn Cemetery. A visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the church. Laufersweiler Funeral Home is serving the family.

Butch is survived by his wife Sandra, children Wanda (Jim) Ganeff of Fort Dodge, Darrell Jr. (Kathy) Grossnickle of Lehigh, Deb Miller of Fort Dodge, Dean Curtis of Rockwell City, and Christine (Mark) Larsen of Indianola, 15 grandchildren, and 19 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Barry Grossnickle, grandchildren Corey, Ryan, and Tony Grossnickle, great-grandchildren Amie Leigh, Dillon Bradley, and Emerson James Ganeff, siblings Rosella Evans, Beulah Sturgis, Francis Mundus, Evelyn Grossnickle, William Grossnickle Jr., Lucille Johnson, Lauretta Andrews, Earl Grossnickle, Virgil Grossnickle, Richard Grossnickle, Shirley Andrews, and Jerold Grossnickle.

Darrel was born May 19, 1938, the 13th child of William and Mary (Williams) Grossnickle. He married Shirley Harrison, and they had four children. The couple later divorced. Darrel married Sandra Blaha Curtis in 1976, bringing two stepchildren into the family. The couple was together over 47 years. Darrel worked for Lehigh Sewer, Pipe and Tile and then the Fort Dodge Labs for 33 years, retiring as a lab tech.

Butch played in several bands throughout his life, including: The Nomads, Dale & the Devonaries, Electric Cowboys, Sir-Vells, and Ace & Friends. Butch and Sandra wintered in Florida and Texas for 18 years, where he continued to play in his Florida band, Dave Hunter Band, and his Texas bands Bill Eagle & the Eagles and the Golden Era Band. In 1997, Darrel was inducted in the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.